Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award 2006 names finalists

TWO fiction books and three poetry collections were named finalists of the annual Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award (MGBFBA), the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP-ICW) and the Madrigal-Gonzalez family announced on Thursday, October 19.

The MGBFBA winner will be announced on December 8, 2006, after a Book Forum with the finalists at 2pm of the said date. The book forum as well as the awarding ceremony will be held at the Pulungang Recto, Bulwagang Rizal, UP-Diliman, Quezon City.

.

The winner will receive a cash prize of P50,000.

.

The MGBFBA, established in February 2001 and administered since then by the UP-ICW, is the only award-winning body in the Philippines recognizing first books by new authors published within the last two years. It is granted by the Madrigal and Gonzalez families, through Atty. Gizela Gonzalez Montinola, writer and granddaughter of Bienvenido Gonzalez, former UP President, and daughter of Gonzalo Gonzalez, former member of the UP Board of Regents.

.

According to UP-ICW director Vim Nadera, the MGBFBA encourages beginning writers to persevere in writing and publishing, and it also encourages publishers to take risk with new authors.

.

The award covers all genres of creative writing and nominations may come from publishing houses, university presses, creative writing centers, writers’ organizations, and other literary enthusiasts. It is given on alternate years to writers in English and writers in Filipino.

.

Previous winners of the MGBFBA were “Life After X” a story collection in English by Angelo R. Lacuesta (2001), “Paghuhunos” novel in Filipino by Ellen L. Sicat (2002), “Smaller and Smaller Circles” a novel in English by Felisa H. Batacan (2003), “Makinilyang Altar” a novel in Filipino by Luna Sicat-Cleto (2004), and “The Sky Over Dimas” a novel in English by Vicente Groyon (2005).

.

This year, the members of the board of judges were Malou Jacob, Luna Sicat-Cleto and Rene O. Villanueva.